There are barely any vegan options at Smashburger. In fact, up until June 2022, they almost seemed to be going out of their way to not be vegan-friendly.
For instance, they have a whole line of Black Bean burgers, but the Black Bean patty contains milk and egg. And let’s not forget to mention that all of their buns (5 in total) contain dairy.
They have fries, but Smashburger deep fries everything in Beef Tallow. Everything. The fries, the Brussel sprouts, tots and sweet potato fries are all fried in the same beef fat oil.
But for some reason, they have added 5 dairy-free milkshakes made with Eclipse ice cream. They even made a big deal about how they were the first fast-casual restaurant to do so.
Hmmm… so I can get dessert but NO actual food?
Out of all the locations we have on VeggL, Smashburger is competing for the least vegan-friendly chain restaurant.
Smashburger Vegan Options
Salad
- Side Salad – If you’re able to order the Side Salad without cheese then this is the only available vegan food option we can find.
Burger
We are aware of how annoying this is but if you are needing to order food here, we suggest “Crafting Your Own Burger” out of veggies, guac, a sauce then choosing a lettuce wrap as your bun.
- Fresh Jalapenos
- Fresh Sliced Avocado
- Guacamole
- Lettuce
- Pickles
- Red Onion
- Tomato
The other veggie options I listed below in the FAQ as to why they are not included.
–> January 2023: We are aware that Smashburger has begun testing a plant-based burger in Colorado, New York and New Jersey, using Jack & Annie’s product. The ingredient list for the burger itself is vegan; however, they do NOT offer any vegan buns AND they cook on a buttered grill.
Sauces
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- BBQ
Milkshakes
Yes, these are dairy free but please be aware that cross-contamination can occur.
Order with NO whipped cream.
- Non-Dairy Chocolate
- Non-Dairy Strawberry
- Non-Dairy Vanilla
- Non-Dairy Peanut Butter
- Non-Dairy Cookies & Cream
* As with any restaurant that is not 100% vegan or does not offer a designated cooking space for their vegan options, cross-contamination can occur and fryers/grills may be shared with animal products. You can choose what your level of comfort is with these potential issues.
Smashburger Vegan FAQ
Is Smashburger’s Jack & Annie Plant-Based Jack Fruit Burger Vegan?
No. In January 2023, Smashburger began testing a plant-based burger in Colorado, New York and New Jersey, using Jack & Annie’s jack-fruit product. The ingredient list for the burger itself is vegan; however, they do NOT offer any vegan buns AND they cook on a buttered grill.
This makes it vegetarian; NOT vegan-friendly. Smashburger has also said they have no plans to have another cooking option that is a) not in butter and b) not cross-contaminated with animal menu items.
Are Smashburger Black Bean Burgers Vegan?
Smashburger has six different varieties of Black Bean Burger and not of them is vegan. The Black Bean Patty itself contains both milk and eggs. In addition to the patties not being vegan, all five varieties of buns at Smashburger contain milk and a couple also have egg.
Does Smashburger Offer A Vegan Bun?
If you count lettuce as a bun then yes. If not, no. Smashburger offers 5 different bun options; classic, multi-grain, brioche, spicy chipotle and Udi’s gluten-free bun. All of them contain dairy. A couple also have egg.
Are Smashburger Fries Vegan?
No. Smashburger fries all of their fried menu items in beef tallow, aka beef fat. This means all of their fried items (fries, sweet potato fries, tots and brussels sprouts) aren’t even vegetarian friendly.
Are Smashburger Brussels Sprouts Vegan?
No. Smashburger fries all of their fried menu items in beef tallow, which includes brussels sprouts. This means all of their fried items (fries, sweet potato fries, tots and brussels sprouts) aren’t even vegetarian friendly.
Does Smashburger Offer Vegan Milkshakes?
Yes. Smashburger began offering dairy-free milkshakes that would be considered “accidentally vegan” in June 2022. As of January 2023, it appears they are still on the menu.
Is Smashburger’s Smash Sauce Vegan?
No. Smashburger’s smash sauce contains egg.
Does Smashburger Offer A Vegan Sauce?
Yes. Smashburger has 3 sauces that would be considered “accidentally vegan.” Ketchup, Mustard & BBQ sauces.
Are Smashburger’s Grilled Onions Vegan?
Oddly no. And not for the reason I would have suspected, a shared grill. The reason why is that Smashburger’s Grilled onions contain pasteurized cream. aka dairy.
Are Smashburger’s Haystack Onions Vegan?
No. Smashburger’s haystack onions contain dairy and egg… and are fried in beef fat.
Are Smashburger’s Sauteed Crimini Mushrooms Vegan?
No. Like their grilled onions, Smashburger’s sauteed crimini mushrooms contain pasteurized cream (aka dairy) for some reason.
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Our Picks
Jen & Ryan’s Pick: We’ve never been to a SmashBurger and currently do not have a location close by to try the new non-dairy shakes.
More Links and Info:
- Want to see Smashburger’s full menu? Head over to the Smashburger’s Menu Page
- Information pulled directly from Smashburger’s Allergen Tool
- Not seeing exactly what you wanted? We also have vegan guides for other burger spots like McDonald’s and Bareburger as well as over 175 other popular chain restaurants on our Vegan Guides at Restaurants Main Page
- Disclaimer: We do everything possible at VeggL to make sure all our Vegan Guides are as up to date as possible, but sometimes menus and menu items can change. VeggL is not responsible for incorrect or outdated information. Always check with your location and server to confirm items are vegan when ordering. If you notice something that needs to be corrected – please let us know!
